MACL fined MVR 10,000 for negligence in goods inspection

Maldives Airports Company (MACL) has been fined MVR 10,000 for not improving the procedures related to the inspection of air cargo at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), in accordance with repeatedly given instructions by Maldives Customs.

MACL has been fined today under the Customs Act, by Home Minister Umar Naseer, who has been appointed as the head of Customs by the president.

Thamzeel Abdul Samad, media coordinator of Home Ministry said to Sun that Airports Company has been fined for not taking required actions even after the minister directed them several times to improve everything related to goods inspection in Custom’s area in airport.

“Minster has requested several times to improve the security issues related to the inspection of air cargo, however, they have not given any response. As a result, 1 kg drugs have been imported to Maldives in a vegetable container very recently. Police Intelligence has come to know that it was brought from air cargo,” said Thamzeel.

Thamzeel said that minister has taken this action under article 100(b) of the Customs Act, and that MACL has to settle the payment within 30 days and improve everything related to goods inspection in Custom’s area in the airport within 60 days.

Thamzeel also said that added action, under the Customs Act, would be taken if Airports Company fails to improve issues related to goods inspection in Custom’s area in the airport within the given time period.

The Customs Act states that 60 percent of goods imported to Maldives are brought as air cargo, and these goods have to be kept in a region identified by Customs. The law also states that security measures and machineries needed to inspect the goods have to be provided by the authority in charge of the port.